You’re viewing an article from The Oklahoman's newsroom. Print subscribers have Full Access to a premium experience at Oklahoman.com.

Share “Oklahoma State basketball: Why Marcus...”

Oklahoma State basketball: Why Marcus Smart is a target for Team USA now and in the future

Jim Boeheim, who is serving as the committee chair and assisting head coach Mike Krzyzewski with Team USA, has targeted Marcus Smart for the squad, both now and later. Boeheim has watched Smart closely.

STILLWATER — Marcus Smart's invitation to last week's Team USA minicamp in Las Vegas, involving almost exclusively NBA pros, wasn't just some token nice gesture to college kid.

Oklahoma State University (OSU) sophomore player Marcus Smart is one of 12 players selected to represent the United States at the 2013 U19 World Basketball Championships in Prague, Czech Republic. ORG XMIT: 1306182217037643

It was a calculated inclusion for a player already owning an international basketball résumé — and building on it to project an even bolder international future.

Jim Boeheim, the Hall of Fame coach of Syracuse who is also serving as the committee chair and assisting head coach Mike Krzyzewski with Team USA, has targeted Smart for the squad, both now and later.

“He's just a competitor,” Boeheim said. “He gets things done. And he wins.”

Boeheim has watched Smart closely, with the Oklahoma State sophomore directing back-to-back USA wins at the FIBA U19 World Championship the past two years.

“We hadn't won the 19-and-under in a while, and we win two with him,” Boeheim said. “He wins games. He's an unbelievable competitor. It's been fun having him on our teams.”

Smart and Creighton's Doug McDermott were the only collegians participating in Vegas, where 28 young NBA players filled two rosters. And both were visible.

“They played well,” Boeheim said. “They more than held their own. I think it was a good experience for them, and I think the exposure was good, playing against these kinds of guys with a lot of NBA people watching.”

Smart, the reigning Big 12 Player of the Year, said he enjoyed the experience, matching up with some of the NBA's rising stars at guard.

“It was incredible going against some of the youngest talent in the NBA,” Smart said. “I was going against the likes of Kyrie Irving, John Wall, Kemba Walker and Ty Lawson. Incredible guys.

“And I think I did very well for the time being out there. Talked to them and a lot of them said I did well and they liked the way I played and held my own out there …

MORE FROM NEWSOK

John Helsley grew up in Del City, reading all the newspapers and sports magazines he could get his hands on. And Saturday afternoons, when the Major League Game of the Week was on, he'd keep a scorecard for the game. So the sports appeal was was...